Manufacture of elastic girdles



Sept. 14, 1965 J. D. SERRA MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC GIRDLES Original Filed April 28. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 14, 1965 J. D. SERRA MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIG GIRDLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 28. 1960 r llvao.

Sept. 14, 1965 J. D. SERRA 3,206,533

MANUFAGTURE OF ELASTIC GIRDLES Original Filed April 28. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 14, 1965 J. D. SERRA 3,206,533

MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC GIBDLES Original Filed April 28. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 0.0.00 0.0.0.9.? o o gmt, c

Sept. 14, 1965 1. D. SERRA MANUFACTURE OF ELASTIC GIRDLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 iginal Filed April 28. 1960 Fig. 27

United States Patent s Claims. (ci. 264-309) This application is a division of the copending parent application Serial No. 25,427 tiled April 28, 1960, issued lune 23, 1964 as U.S. Patent No. 3,138,162.

This invention relates to the manufacture of elastic girdles and has for an object an improved method of manufacturing elastic seamless girdles of mesh-like body molded from deposited latex.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved method of manufacturing an elastic girdle made up of a single, seamless piece of deposited latex, having on most of its surface a mold mesh-like network of multiple small holes, with the girdle having at the upper and lower edges continuous areas of reinforcement which form a unit with the mesh-like zone. The mesh-like area between the upper and lower edges is provided with reinforcements of any predetermined pattern which form a unit with the mesh-like area. A girdle of this improved construction offers the important advantage over ordinary laminated rubber girdles that, because of its open-weave style mesh, created by multiple small holes, it permits the free breathing of the skin on which it is placed, completely preventing the accumulation of perspiration beneath it. Furthermore, the continuous reinforcements, appearing at the top and bottom of the garment and forming a unit with the meshlike zone, reduce the elasticity of the girdle in these areas thereby assuring the proper tit of the girdle on the body. Additionally, the continuous reinforcements appearing in the mesh-like area between the upper and lower edges, and having any desired pattern, reduce the elasticity of the girdle in selected regions for suitable support of the abdomen, hips and the like.

Girdles of the foregoing type preferably are manufactured on novel inexpensive molds or forms comprising a thin frame or screen of mesh material corresponding to the shape of the girdle to be manufactured over a core or screen of continuous surface and slightly spaced from it. The thin screen or frame of mesh material is designed to support, during manufacture, the liquid material, such as latex, sprayed upon it for forming the girdle, and the core or battle receives the material which during the atomization or pulverization of the spraying process passes through the holes of the frame. The frame may be made of any material having multiple small holes therethrough, for example metal screening, forming a hollow body of straight, curved or mixed outline as desired. Furthermore, the fine screen may have areas covered by a film of any suitable material firmly bonded to its meshes which determined corresponding continuous Zones, forming smooth or raised designs in the finished girdle.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of producing womens girdles having a high degree of porosity. While rotating an endless perforate structure or form having the shape desired for the girdle and characterized by a multiplicity of small closely spaced openings distributed throughout the major portion of the structure, there is directed toward the endless structure a stream of atomized uncoagulated latex. There is concurrently introduced relative undulating movement between the directed stream and the structure ice variably to coat that portion of the structure moving into the path of the diverted stream of latex progressively to coat the endless structure, with concurrent passage through the multiplicity of openings of the uncoagulated latex, Heat is applied to the endless structure to initiate coagulation and vulcanization of the perforated coa-ting of latex on the endless structure and thereafter there is stripped from the endless structure a seamless girdle of vulcanized latex of substantial strength and characterized by its high degree of porosity. The stream of latex is directed at the endless structure at a rate which not only coats the solid portions of the endless structure but also produces concurrent passage through the openings of uncoagulated latex and the latex which passes through the openings is collected prior to its arrival at the opposite surface of the endless structure.

It will be noted hereinafter that in accordance with the present invention, the endless perforate structure revolves about a vertical axis while the stream of latex is moved up and down and back and forth relative to the endless structure and thus both the endless structure and the spray are in motion during the manufacture of the girdle.

In the aforesaid parent application there is disclosed a machine for the manufacture of elastic, seamless girdles by spraying liquid or powdered material on a mold and providing relative rotation between the mold and the spray.r The machine is particularly suitable for use in the process of manufacturing elastic girdles of the present invention, which on most of their surface present multiple small holes, by the employment of a mold made up of a hollow rounded body of any open weave or mesh such as a perforated plate or screen, and which carries inside a core or baffle of continuous surface of the type referred to above. The machine is characterized by including a carrying mechanism for the mold and corresponding core mounted in a housing containing an` elongated opening. A- heating unit and atleast one spray nozzle are mounted facing the elongated opening and are adapted for alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold for a distance corresponding to the length of the mold.

The carrier for the mold and its corresponding core is composed for rotating platform powered by a suitable mechanism and the heating unit is located in a stationary position inside the housing opposite the elongated opening. In another form, the carrier for the mold and its corresponding core comprises a stationary disc upon which is attached the core, the latter having a concaveconvex body placed with the convex surface facing the elongated aperture of the housing. A rotating toothed wheel is concentric with the disc and carries the mold. The wheel is rotated from a suitable power source and a heating element is placed inside the core to dry the material deposited on the mold. The heating unit is preferably composed of electrical resistance or infrared tubes, although other suitable means may be used. The spraying means may be in the form of one or more nozzles mounted on a rotating column. The spraying means is connected with an oscillating device capable of imparting to the spraying nozzles during their alternating motion an oscillation perpendicular to the direction of their travel. The oscillating device may consist, for example, of an undulated guide parallelto the rotating column and a roller attached to the spraying means and adapted to roll on the guide.`

For further objects and advantages of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a girdle produced according to method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fractional view, on enlarged scale, of an area of the girdle shown in FIG. 1 molded in mesh-like fashion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the mesh-like area provided with a continuous reinforcement in the region of the abdomen;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a mold useful in the manufacture of girdles according to the method of the present invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7-9 are views of a modification of the mold corresponding to FIGS. 4-6;

FIGS. 10-12 are views of another modification of the mold similar to FIGS. 4-6;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are side elevation views of additional modifications of the mold;

FIG. 15 is a further modication of the mold useful in the manufacture of a girdle of the type illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a machine useful in molding girdles in accordance with the process of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a bottom View of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fractional view taken in the direction of arrows 18 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a fractional view of a modification of the machine of FIG. 16, partially illustrated in vertical section according to lines 19-19 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 20 is a horizontal section taken along the plane 2020 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 2l is a side elevation view in the direction of arrow 21 in FIG. 19 and partially in section;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fractional view of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a modification of an elastic girdle produced according to the method of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a fractional view on enlarged scale of a portion of the girdle of FIG. 1 as viewed from the exterior;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24 as viewed from the inside of the girdle of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a cross-section taken along the plane 26--26 in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side elevation of a mold useful in the manufacture of girdles of the type illustrated in FIG. 23; and

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of FIG. 27.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a girdle 10 made up of a single, seamless piece of deposited latex having on the major portion of its surface a molded network 11 including multiple small molded holes 12. The holes 12 are maintained in the girdle material during the entire molding operation and are not subsequently introduced into the material as by mechanical perforating or by forcing gas through pores which have previously been bridged by rubber latex. The molded network 11 of FIG. 1 is in mesh style. The upper and lower parts of the girdle 10 are provided with reinforced continuous zones or areas 13 and 14 which form a single unit with the mesh or molded network 11. The upper reinforced zone 13 provides additional support for the body of the wearer, for example along the hips. The lower reinforcement 14 is provided, as shown, with enlarged portions 14 for fastening garters. The portions 14 may be reinforced with cloth if desired.

In FIG. 3, which is a front view of a girdle 10 similar to that in FIG. 1, there is provided a continuous reinforcement portion 15 in the region of the abdomen which, like the reinforcements 13 and 14 at the top and bottom form a single integral unit with the entire mesh-like area 11.

Girdles of the type produced according to the present invention are adapted to be constructed on tubular-shaped molds such as the endless perforate structures illustrated in FIGS. 4-15. In general, each of the molds includes a frame in the form of a hollow tubular member having a fine network of holes which is placed over an interior core or baffle of imperforate material. In the form of mold 17, illustrated in FIGS. 46, there is provided a frame 18 having a fine network of holes, such as a metal screen in the shape of a hollow truncated cone. The frame 18 is placed on and `at a slight distance from a core or baille 19 comprising an inner hollow truncated cone. In the modification of FIGS. 7-9 the mold 2@ includes a frame 21 having a fine network of holes similar to frame 18. The frame Z1 is placed over and slightly separated from a core or baille 22 comprising a partial hollow truncated cone. The difference between the molds 17 and 20 will be hereinafter explained in connection with the description of the machine on which they are utilized in the manufacture of girdles shown in FIGS. 1-3.

In FIGS. 10-12, the mold 24 comprises an outer frame 2S and an inner frame 26 similar to frames 18 and 21. The frames 2S and 26 are juxtaposed at a slight distance from each other and are attached to a single core or baffle 27 comprised of a hollow truncated cone similar to core 19 of FIG. 4.

The molds 29 and 32 of FIGS. 13 and 14 likewise include respective frames 30 and 33 and their corresponding cores 31 and 34. The cores 31 and 34 may be continuous tubular members such as member 19 of FIG. 4 or sections of tubular members similar to core member 22 in FIG. 7. 'Ihe molds 29 and 32 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 show that the present invention is not limited to cone-shaped molds, but the invention is also applicable to molds having rounded hollow shapes of curved and sinuous appearance.

In FIG. 15 there is illustrated a mold 36 having a frame 37 on which areas 38, 39 and 40 have been covered with a film of any suitable material, firmly attached to the mesh of the screen 37. The solid material areas 363-40 by their location determine corresponding continuous zones forming smooth or raised designs on the molded girdle as indicated in FIGS. l and 3.

The frames of the respective molds described above serve as a support during the manufacturing process for the liquid material; for example rubber latex, which is applied to the frames by atomization or pulverization. During this application of latex material, the frames are caused to rotate in front of spraying means including one or more nozzles. An example of a preferred form of machine is hereinafter described. The sprayed material is deposited on the various meshes of the frame in successive layers until reaching the desired thickness of the girdle, and by simultaneous heating, the drying and/or vulcanization of the girdle is produced with the finished girdle being easily removed from the mold or support. The latex material, which during atomization passes through the holes of the frame which forms the moldsupport is deposited in a continuous coat on the core or baliie attached to the frame.

When the core is made of a closed rounded body as core 19 in the example of FIGS. 4-6, it may be stationary or turned with the corresponding frame 18. Where the frame is attached to a core made of a partial rounded body such as the core 22 in FIGS. 7-9, the core remains stationary while the frame is turning with the convex surface of the core facing the spraying device as later to be described in connection with FIGS. 19-22. Where the mold is provided with two frames fastened to a single core, such as mold 24 in FIGS. 10-12, two molded girdles are obtained simultaneously and at the same time there is a reduction in the amount of material deposited upon the core. It is of course to be understood that the deposit of material that forms on the core need not be discarded as waste, but may be used for the manufacture of garters or other items.

Referring to FIGS. 1618, there is illustrated a machine 50 adapted to utilize molds such as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 in the manufacture of girdles embodying the present 5 invention. The machine S is provided with a base 51 on which is mounted a rotating platform 52 which serves as a carrier for the mold frame 53 and its corresponding core 54. The carrier 52, the mold frame 53 and the core 54 are all disposed within a housing 55 carried by the base 51, the housing having an elongated opening 56. The mold frame 53 consists of a hollow body in the form of a truncated cone made of a light network of any suitable material such, for example, as metal screening or a perforated metal plate having multiple small holes and the core or baffle 54 is in the shape of a hollow truncated cone having a continuous or imperforate surface. The rotating platform 52 is supported by an axle 57 to which is attached a gear wheel 58 which meshes with and is rotated by a corresponding pinion 59 driven from an electric motor 66. Within the housing 55 and opposite the elongated aperture 56 there is positioned a heating device 61. The heating device preferably is in the form of electric resistances or infrared tubes or their equivalent. The heating device, as illustrated, is adapted to apply heat to the mold frame 53 in an arcuate zone of limited circumferential extent.

Outside of the housing 55 and facing the long opening 56 is a spraying means 12 comprising one or more nozzles mounted on a double-threaded rotating column 63. The column 63 is supported by a frame 64 and is driven from a motor 65 by way of pulleys 66 and 67 over which passes a V-belt. The drive motors 66 and 65 may be adjustable electric motors or they may be provided with automatic speed regulating means to permit adjustment of the rotational speed of the platform S2 and the doublethreaded column 63. The column 63, during its rotation, imparts to the spraying device or nozzle 12 an alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold 53 to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. The puverizing or atomizing nozzle 62 is equipped with an oscillating device capable of imparting to it during its alternating travel an oscillation movement perpendicular to` the direction of its travel. In the example illustrated, the oscillation device comprises an undulated guide 68 mounted parallel to the rotating column 63 and includes a roller 69 which is attached to the nozzle 62 and is adapted to roll freely on the guide 68. This produces an undulating movement to the stream of latex in directions generally normal to its axial movement progressively to coat the solid portions of the mold or endless perforate structure 53. This is best shown in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 16 there is best shown a control panel 70 which includes the control mechanisms for the drive motors 60 and 65 and control means for the heating unit 61. The compressed air valve for the atomizing or pulverizing nozzle 62 is identified by reference character 71, FIGS. 16-18.

`The machine t) operates in the following manner: The tank connected to the nozzle 62 is filled with the material to be sprayed, for example rubber-base latex, and the drive motors 60 and 65 are started up along with the heating device 61. As a result, the mold frame 53 along with its core 54 will be placed in rotation and the nozzle 62 will assume alternating movement in a direction parallel to the mold to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. Upon opening the compressed air valve 21, the material contained in the tank connected to the nozzle 62 is sprayed against the mold frame 53, which is rotating inside the housing S5, and the material is deposited upon the mold frame 53 in successive coats.

It will be noted as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 that the diverging stream of atomized uncoagulated latex is directed toward the outer surface of the rotating mold frame 53 from distances along a plane parallel to the vertically disposed longitudinal axis of the mold thereby establishing a coating zone wherein the diverging stream encompasses a lesser surface area of the mold frame 53 throughout the region of its larger circumference and a greater surface area of the mold frame S3 as the circumference of it decreases thereby uniformly to coat the outer surface of the mold frame 53 with latex notwithstanding the axially changing circumference of the mold frame 53. During the rotary motion of the mold, the heating device 61 causes drying and/or vulcanization of the deposited material.

By positioning the heating device 61 at a location opposite from the nozzle 62, the latex applied to the mold frame 53 is elevated to a coagulating temperature before that area of the mold frame again arrives in the zone of the directed stream of uncoagulated latex from nozzle 62. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the core 54 collects the latex which is passed through the openings in the mold frame 53within the coating zone as a spray before it can reach the heating zone established by the heating device 61.

When the desired thickness of material is attained on the mold frame 53, the machine 5t) is stopped by turning off the nozzle 62, the drive motors 69 and 65 and the heating device 61 and the mold is removed from the housing 55 and the completed girdle, corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 1-3, is removed from the mold. The material which during the spraying process passes through the holes of the screen or perforated plate which makes up the mold frame 53 is deposited in a continuous layer on the core or bale 54 fastened to the mold frame 53. By replacing the mold on its rotating support 52, another girdle can be manufactured immediately and the foregoing process repeated over and over again. i

Referring to FIGS. 19-22, there is illustrated a modication of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 16-18. In the modification of FIGS. 19-22, there is illustrated a machine 50a having a base 72 on which is supported a housing 73 having a long opening 74. Facing the opening 74 is a spray nozzle 75 which is adapted to be supported and guided in the same manner as illustrated and described in connection with spray nozzle 62 in FIGS. 16-18. For that reason the means for supportingand guiding the spray nozzle 75 have not been repeated in FIGS. 19-22. The machine 50a differs from machine 50 in that the carrier for the mold frame 76 and the corresponding core 77 is made of a stationary disc 78 upon which is fastened the core 77. The core 77 is made up of a concave-convex body. Thus it will be seen that the combined mold frame 76 and core 77` corresponds to the mold 2t) of FIGS. 7-9.

As may be seen in FIG. 20, the core 77 is positioned with its convex surface facing the opening 74 of the housing 73 so that it is directly opposite the nozzle 75. The mold frame 76 is attached to and is carried by a rotating gear wheel 79, FIG. 22, concentric with the stationary disc 78. The gear wheel 79, carrying the mold frame 76, is a unit made with a crown gear 79' meshing with a worm wheel 80 on a shaft 81. The shaft 81 is driven from a drive motor 82, FIG. 21, by means of pulleys 83 and 84 and a V-belt 85. A heating device 86 is placed in the concave interior of the core 77 and thus the frame portion 76 of the mold is adapted to rotate relative to both the stationary core 77 and the heating device 86, FIG. 22.

The operation of the machine 50a is similar in many respects to that of machine 50, previously described. The tank connected to the spraying device 75 is lled with the material to be sprayed, such as the rubberbase latex, and the drive motor 82, FIGS. 19-22, and drive motor 65, FIG. 16, are started along with the heating device 86. As a result, the mold frame 76 will be placed in rotation and the nozzle 75 will assume an alternating movement in a` direction parallel to the mold frame 76 to an extent corresponding to the length of the mold. Upon opening the compressed air valve, the material contained in the tank connected to the nozzle 75 is sprayed against the mold frame 76, which is rotating inside the housing 73, and the material is deposited upon the mold frame 76 in successive coats. During the rotary motion of the mold frame 76, the heaters 86 dry and/or vulcanize the deposited material and once the desired thickness is obtained, the machine 50a is stopped, the mold frame 76 is removed and the completed girdle removed from it. The material which during the spraying process passes through the holes in the mold frame 76 is deposited in a continuous layer on the convex surface of the core 77. By replacing the mold frame 76 on its rotating support 79, another girdle can be manufactured immediately and the process repeated successively.

Referring to FIGS. 23-26, there is illustrated another modication -of a girdle produced according to the process of the present invention. The girdle 90 is made of a single, seamless piece, for example of deposited latex, which on most of its surface contains multiple small molded holes 91 only a few of which have been illustrated in FIG. 23 for purposes of clarity. The multiple small holes 91 extend over the entire surface of the girdle 90 except in the sections which are provided with reinforcing zones. In FIG. 23 there is illustrated upper and lower sections having reinforcing zones 92 and 93 of continuous surface which form a single unit with the area provided with the holes 91. The reinforcements 92 and 93 may be strengthened additionally with cloth or other suitable material.

The multiple small holes 91 obtained during the manufacture of the girdle 90 present on the outside .of the girdle a rounded edge 94 as may best be seen in FIG. 26. On the inside of the girdle the holes 91 extend in short tubular collars 95 which protrude slightly beyond the general surface of the inner side of the girdle. The girdle 90, because of its many closely-spaced small molded holes, enables the skin to breathe and prevents the accumulation of perspiration beneath it when the girdle is worn. The multiple small holes 91 do not cause a harmful weakening in the resistance of the girdle, first because the holes 91 are molded during the process of manufacturing the girdle and secondly because each of the holes has on the reverse side Iof the girdle a reinforcement composed of the tubular extension 95. The rounded edge 94 presented by the holes 91 on the outside of the girdle cause the outside of the girdle to be quite slippery and thus enable garments to be freely slipped over the girdle. The tubular collar 95 which constitutes a prolongation of the holes 91 to the inside of the girdle causes the inside to be quite non-slippery, the latter being an important characteristic since they prevent the girdle from slipping when placed against the body.

The girdle 90 illustrated in FIGS. 23-26 may be manufactured on a mold such as illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28 in conjunction with a machine as described in FIGS. 16-22. Referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, there is illustrated a mold 100 including a body 101 in the form of a hollow truncated cone the wall of which is provided with multiple small holes 102. Only a few of the small holes 102 have been illustrated in FIG. 27 in order not to obscure the drawing, the location of the other small holes being shown schematically by means of crossed lines, such schematic showing also being utilized in FIG. 28. The hollow truncated cone 101 is provided on the inside with a core or baiiie 103 of continuous or imperforate surface which is placed at a slight distance from the wall of the cone 101. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28, the core 103 comprises a partial hollow truncated cone, but it is to be understood that the core may be a complete body in the shape of a hollow truncated cone such, for example, as previously described in connection with the modifications of molds illustrated in FIGS. 4-15. It is also to be understood that the mold or frame 101 may have other shapes or outlines than a truncated cone, such for example as the other shapes illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. Likewise, the frame 101 may be provided with a similar linner frame such for example as in the modification illustrated in FIGS. -12. In FIG. 27, the areas 104 and 105 of the frame 101 are covered by a film of any suitable material firmly attached to the outer surface of the frame S 101. These areas 104 and 105 provide corresponding continuous imperforate zones on the multiple-hole, frame 101 forming dat or raised designs in the completed girdle, such as illustrated at 92 and 93 in FIG. 23.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by the process of the present invention elastic seamless girdles can be produced by spraying latex on relatively inexpensive molds which by reason of their thin open mesh or perforated structure can be readily shaped to provide the desired contour and the girdles can be provided with the desired reinforced areas merely by covering the corresponding perforated areas of the mold so that the latex does not pass through the openings in those areas. By rotating the mold and concurrently moving the spray up and down and back and forth in front of the mold as described herein, there is produced a girdle with an even surface and perforations of uniform size.

It shall be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangements shown, and that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing elastic seamless girdles of the molded tubular type having a molded network of multiple small holes to provide a high degree of porosity which comprises rotating about a vertical axis an endless perforate structure having the shape desired for the girdle and characterized by a multiplicity of small closely spaced openings distributed throughout the major portion of the endless structure, moving a stream of atomized uncoagulated latex axially of and directed toward the endless structure first in one direction and then in the opposite direction and concurrently introducing an undulating movement to the stream of latex in directions generally normal to its axial movement progressively to coat the solid portions of the endless structure with concurrent passage through the multiplicity of openings of the uncoagulated latex, collecting the latex passing through the multiplicity of openings before it reaches the opposite side of the endless structure, applying heat to a segment of the endless structure coextensive with its length and in a region generally opposite the zone of application of the latex to the endless structure to initiate coagulation and vulcanization of the perforate coating of latex on the endless structure, and thereafter stripping from the endless structure a seamless girdle of vulcanized latex of substantial strength and characterized by its high degree of porosity.

2. The method of producing elastic seamless girdles of the molded tubular type having a molded network of multiple small holes to provide a high degree of porosity which comprises directing a stream of uncoagulated latex against a limited segmental area of the outer surface of a vertically disposed endless perforate structure having the shape desired for the girdle and characterized by its multiplicity of small closely spaced openings distributed throughout the major portion of the endless structure at a rate which not only coats the solid portions of the endless structure but also produces concurrent passage through the openings of uncoagulated latex, collecting the latex Which passes through the openings prior to its arrival at the inner surface at the opposite side of the endless structure, applying heat to coagulate and vulcanize the coating of latex on the endless structure, and stripping from the endless structure a porous girdle of vulcanized latex.

3. The method of producing elastic seamless girdles according to claim 2 including the step of removing from Within the endless structure the latex collected after passing through the openings of the endless structure.

4. The method of producing elastic seamless girdles of the molded tubular type having a molded network of multiple small holes to provide a high degree of porosity which comprises rotating an endless perforate structure having the shape desired for the girdle and characterized by a multiplicity of small openings distributed throughout the major portion of the endless structure, directing an undulating stream of atomized uncoagulated latex toward the endless structure progressively to coat the solid portions of the outer surface of that structure with concurrent passage through the multiplicity of openings of uncoagulated latex while avoidingy coating the inner surface of the endless structure, applying heat to the endless structure throughout a zone coextensive with its axial length and disposed remote from the zone of application of latex to the endless structure, whereby latex applied to the endless structure is elevated to a coagulating temperature before again arriving in the zone of the directed stream of uncoagulated latex, vulcanizing the latex, and stripping from the endless structure a seamless girdle of vulcanized latex characterized by its high degree of porosity.

5. The method of producing elastic seamless girdles of the molded tubular type having a molded network of multiple small holes to provide a high degree of porosity which comprises rotating about a vertical axis an endless perforate structure having the shape desired for the girdle and with a changing circumference from a smaller end portion to a larger end portion and characterized by a multiplicity of small openings distributed throughout the major portion of the endless structure, directing a diverging stream of atomized uncoagulated latex toward the outer surface of the endless structure from distances along a plane parallel to the vertically disposed longitudinally axis of the endless structure thereby to establish a coating zone wherein the diverging stream encompasses a lesser surface area of the endless structure throughout the region of its larger circumference and a greater surface area of the endless structure as the circumference of the endless structure decreases thereby uniformly to coat the outer surface of the endless structure with concurrent passage through the multiplicity of small openings of the uncoagulated latex notwithstanding the axially changing circumference of the endless structure, intercepting the latex passing through the mutilplicity of small openings before it reaches the opposite side of the endless structure, drying the latex on the endless structure, and stripping from the endless structure a seamless girdle of latex characterized by its high degree of porosity.

6. The method of producing elastic seamless girdle of the molded tubular type having a molded network of multiple small holes to provide a high degree of porosity which comprises positioning a form having the shape desired for the girdle and including a network of small closely spaced openings distributed throughout the major portion of the form so that the axis of the form is vertical, directing a stream of atmoized uncoagulated latex toward the outer surface of the vertically positioned form and concurrently introducing relative movement between the directed stream and the form progresively to coat the outer surface of the form with concurrent passage through the multiplicity of openings of the uncoagulated latex, intercepting the latex passing through the multiplicity of openings before it reaches the inner surface at the opposite side of the form, drying the coating of latex on the form, and stripping from the form a seamless girdle of deposited latex characterized by its high degree of porosity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,099 7/ 39 Hansen 264-309 2,428,127 9/47 Sidnell 264-305 3,016,598 1/ 62 Anderson et al. 264-309 ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner.

ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD OF PRODUCING ELASTIC SEAMLESS GIRDLES OF THE MOLDED TUBULAR TYPE HAVING A MOLDED NETWORK OF MULTIPLE SMALL HOLES TO PROVIDE A HIGH DEGREE OF POROSITY WHICH COMPRISES ROTATING ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS AN ENDLESS PERFORATE STRUCTURE HAVING THE SHAPE DESIRED FOR THE GIRDLE AND CHARACTERIZED BY A MULTIPLICITY OF SMALL CLOSELY SPACED OPENINGS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE, MOVING A STREAM OF ATOMIZED UNCOAGULATED LATEX AXIALLY OF AND DIRECTED TOWARD THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE FIRST IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND CONCURRENTLY INTRODUCING AN UNDULATING MOVEMENT TO THE STREAM OF LATEX IN DIRECTIONS GENERALLY NORMAL TO ITS AXIAL MOVEMENT PROGRESSIVELY TO COAT THE SOLID PORTIONS OF THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE WITH CONCURRENT PASSAGE THROUGH THE MULTIPLICITY OF OPENINGS OF THE UNCOAGULATED LATEX, COLLECTING THE LATEX PASSING THROUGH THE MULTIPLICITY OF OPENINGS BEFORE IT REACHES THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE, APPLYING HEAT TO A SEGMENT OF THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE COEXTENSIVE WITH ITS LENGTH AND IN A REGION GENERALLY OPPOSITE THE ZONE OF APPLICATION OF THE LATEX TO THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE TO INITIATE COAGULATION AND VULCANIZATION OF THE PERFORATE COATING OF LATEX ON THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE, AND THEREAFTER STRIPPING FROM THE ENDLESS STRUCTURE A SEAMLESS GIRDLE OF VULCANIZED LATEX OF SUBSTANTIAL STRENGTH AND CHARACTERIZED BY ITS HIGH DEGREE OF POROSITY. 